Analyst Upgrades

• Brinker (EAT) to buy from neutral at UBS.
• Starbucks (SBUX) to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Paccar (PCAR) to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• CA Technologies (CA) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• PPL Corp. (PPL) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• ConocoPhillips (COP) to hold from sell at Citigroup.
• First Defiance (FDEF) to outperform from market perform at Keefe Bruyette.
• MasTec (MTZ) to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse.
• Amdocs (DOX) to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CA, COP, DOX, EAT, FIG, JNS, MTN, NLSN, PCAR, SBUX, SLW ...

Analyst Calls: CA, COP, DOX, EAT, FIG, JNS, MTN, NLSN, PCAR, SBUX, SLW ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Calls

• Medtronic (MDT) to buy from neutral and 1-800-Flowers.com (FLWS) to neutral from sell at Goldman.
• CarMax (KMX) to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• Points International (PTSEF) to buy from neutral at Merriman.
• Nokia (NOK) to market perform from underperform at Morgan Keegan.
• Amdocs (DOX) to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.
• Western Alliance (WAL) to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• Carbo Ceramics (CRR) to outperform from market perform at BMO Capital.
• Rackspace (RAX) to buy from hold at Benchmark Co.
• Brinker (EAT) to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: BP, EAT, JBLU, KMX, MDT, MYGN, NOK, NTRS, RAX, RDS.A, T ...

Analyst Calls: BP, EAT, JBLU, KMX, MDT, MYGN, NOK, NTRS, RAX, RDS.A, T ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Verisk (VRSK) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Wells Fargo.
• Marriott (MAR) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Bernstein.
• Jefferies upgraded Teekay (TK) and Tsakos Energy (TNP) to Buy from Hold.
• Cadence Design (CDNS) was upgraded to sector perform from underperform at RBC Capital.
• BofA/Merrill upgraded NV Energy (NVE) to buy from underperform and Education Realty Trust (EDR) to neutral from underperform.
• Men's Wearhouse (MW) was upgraded to buy from hold at Stifel.
• William Blair upgraded Atheros (ATHR) to outperform from market perform.
• Freeport McMoran (FCX) was upgraded to buy from hold at Argus.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CTV, CVX, EAT, FCX, ICE, MAR, MW, TRV, WLP ...

Analyst Calls: CTV, CVX, EAT, FCX, ICE, MAR, MW, TRV, WLP ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• Canaccord believes growth in DigitalGlobe's (DGI) commercial business will be a catalyst for shares. The firm upgraded shares to buy from hold and has a $38 price target on the stock.
• Standpoint upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) to accumulate from hold based on valuation. The firm has a $47 target on the stock.
• Morgan Keegan upgraded Open Text (OTEX) to outperform from market perform based on the company's strong FY2011 EPS outlook.
• Devon Energy (DVN) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Morgan Stanley.
• Magna (MGA) was upgraded to outperform from sector perform at RBC Capital.
• EnCana (ECA) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Macquarie.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: ANF, CRUS, DGI, EAT, EV, MELI, OTEX, PH, SIRI, WYNN ...

Analyst Calls: ANF, CRUS, DGI, EAT, EV, MELI, OTEX, PH, SIRI, WYNN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst Upgrades

• BMO Capital upgraded Concho (CXO) to outperform from market perform and has a $73 price target on the stock. The firm cites valuation and sustainable growth for the upgrade.
• Sterne Agee upgraded City Holding (CHCO) to buy from neutral based on valuation. The firm has a $34 target on the stock.
• UBS upgraded Werner Enterprises (WERN) to neutral from sell based on valuation. The firm raised its price target to $21.50 from $21.
• Nvidia (NVDA) was upgraded to equal weight from underweight at Morgan Stanley.
• Colfax (CFX) was upgraded to neutral from underperform at BofA/Merrill.
• Camden Property (CPT) was upgraded to top pick from outperform at RBC Capital.

Continue reading Analyst Calls: CHCO, CXO, EAT, EDMC, GPC, NVDA, PJC, WERN ...

Analyst Calls: CHCO, CXO, EAT, EDMC, GPC, NVDA, PJC, WERN ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) reported that Q1 revenue was up but earnings declined sharply, and it offered guidance.
• Best Buy Inc. (BBY) shares rallied after it topped Q4 earnings expectations and offered encouraging guidance.
• Brinker International Inc. (EAT) raised its outlook for fiscal 2010 and also increased its quarterly dividend.
• China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) reported that its revenue had doubled and it beat earnings expectations.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) Q3 earnings matched estimates and revenue was flat, and it reaffirmed its outlook.
• Finish Line Inc. (FINL) shares rallied after it reported that Q4 earnings came in better than analysts' expected.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Adobe, Best Buy, General Mills, Oracle, Tiffany, Walgreen ...

Earnings Highlights: Adobe, Best Buy, General Mills, Oracle, Tiffany, Walgreen ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Brinker International (EAT) has elevated its outlook for fiscal 2010, as evidenced by a 27% increase in its quarterly dividend, to be made effective with its fourth quarter payment.

The operator of the Chili's and Maggiano's restaurant chains said it expects full year 2010 earnings to come in between $1.40 and $1.44 per share. The previous estimate was for between $1.15 and $1.30 earnings per share. According to a PR Newswire press release, provided by DailyFinance, the fourth quarter dividend will be paid on July 1, 2010, to shareholders of record as of June 17, 2010.

Continue reading Brinker International Boosts Dividend and 2010 Outlook

Brinker International Boosts Dividend and 2010 Outlook originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Quarterly reports continue to roll out this week, with results due from Allstate Corp. (ALL), Coca-Cola Co. (KO), Marriott International Inc. (MAR), Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP), New York Times Co. (NYT), Pepsico Inc. (PEP), Sprint Nextel Corp. (S), Viacom (VIA), Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and many others. Here's a look at a few of the companies that analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to be the biggest earnings gainers this week.

Analysts are looking for Coinstar Inc. (CSTR), which distributes coin-counting, DVD-rental, and other self-service kiosks, to report that its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year ago to $0.32 per share. Revenue for the three months that ended in December is expected to have jumped 26.1% to $329.2 million. The analysts' forecast for the full year calls for earnings of $0.94 per share (+46.8%) on $1.2 billion in revenue (+25.9%). Coinstar has beat earnings estimates in the past three quarters, by as much as six cents per share.

Continue reading The Week in Preview: High Hopes for Coinstar, Agilent, Chipotle, Baidu, Hasbro

The Week in Preview: High Hopes for Coinstar, Agilent, Chipotle, Baidu, Hasbro originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Autumn has arrived and the quarter winds down this week. The Dow has been inching toward 10,000 for a while now, though it closed lower in the past three sessions. Can it make it to 10,000 for the start of the third quarter? If so, what will push it higher? If not, what will drag it down further?

• Monday is Yom Kippur, the most solemn of the Jewish holidays; trading likely will be lighter than usual. In the evening, the FDIC meets to discuss how to rebuild the Bank Deposit Insurance Fund.
• Tuesday, the Consumer Confidence Index for September is due and the SEC holds a public meeting to consider more short sale actions.

Continue reading The week in preview: Is the rally over?

The week in preview: Is the rally over? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This week brings a small flurry of end-of-the-calendar-quarter earnings reports. And for the most part, the expectations of the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters aren't very high. Companies expected to report declining earnings in the most recently concluded quarter include America's Car-Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT), Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY), ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG), Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL), Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON), and Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC).

Continue reading The week in preview: End-of-quarter earnings expectations: Nike, Oracle, Walgreen ...

The week in preview: End-of-quarter earnings expectations: Nike, Oracle, Walgreen ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Citigroup upgraded Lennar (NYSE: LEN) to Buy from Hold as it believes the company's near-term liquidity profile is improved following the $400M debt issuance. The firm raised its target price to $12 from $11.
• Jefferies upgraded Rowan Companies (NYSE: RDC) to Buy from Hold as it believes jack-up drillers will continue to outperform deepwater names. The firm raised its target price to $27 from $20.
• Keefe Bruyette upgraded First Financial (NASDAQ: FFIN) to Market Perform from Underperform to reflect more positive loan data for the Texas banks. The firm raised its target price on shares to $44 from $38.
• MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) was upgraded to Overweight from Neutral at JP Morgan.
• Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at JMP Securities.
• Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Barclays.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LEN, RDC, FFIN, SII, AN, ACHN, UA, LULU, JST

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: LEN, RDC, FFIN, SII, AN, ACHN, UA, LULU, JST originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 May 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Bad time to be a waitress, or a Brinker investor

Bad time to be a waitress, or a Brinker investor originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• AFLAC Inc. (NYSE: AFL) reported better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter.
• Ambac Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: ABK) posted a wider-than-expected loss; shares hit new low.
• Amdocs Ltd. (NYSE: DOX) beat Q2 estimates on strength in the managed services businesses.
• Amphenol Corp. (NYSE: APH) beat expectations in the first quarter and raised its guidance.
• Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN) posted a larger-than-estimated Q1 loss.
• Aptar Group Inc. (NYSE: ATR) posted record Q1 results and raised its Q2 guidance.
• Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) Q1 earnings plunged on further housing-related write-downs.
• Brinker International Inc. (NYSE: EAT) narrowly beat earnings expectations on cost cutting.
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY) beat analysts' estimates for the first quarter.
• Credit Suisse Group (NYSE: CS) reported a wider-than-forecast loss on subprime-related write-downs.
• Cree Inc. (NYSE: CREE) earnings slipped while revenues soared 29%.
• Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) reported worse-than-expected Q1 earnings on discontinued product charge.
• Gannet Inc. (NYSE: GCI) beat low expectations as earnings and revenue continue slump.
• Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS) posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings on international strength.
• JAKKS Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) missed Q1 expectations on restructuring and litigation costs.
• Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB) beat EPS estimates by a penny, as revenue jumped 10%.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Bank of America, Merck, Mattel, Phillip Morris, AFLAC and others

Earnings highlights: Bank of America, Merck, Mattel, Phillip Morris, AFLAC and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Friedman Billings expects Time Warner Telecom (NASDAQ: TWTC) to post free cash flow growth above consensus expectations and believes carrier spending-concerns are overdone. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $20 target.
  
• Oppenheimer initiated Verigy (NASDAQ: VRGY) with a Perform rating and $23 target, pointing to the company's tough year over year comps as PC unit growth slows in 2008 as well as its exposure to flash memory chips.
  
• Brinker (NYSE: EAT) was assumed with a Neutral rating at Suntrust, as they expect Chili's to continue to be impacted by weak consumer spending.

• Baird assumed Ulta Salon (NASDAQ: ULTA) with an Outperform rating and $18 target.
  
• Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF) was initiated at Jefferies with a Hold rating and $10-$11 target.
  
• Landstar System (NASDAQ: LSTR) was initiated with a Market Perform rating at Morgan Keegan.

Analyst initiations: TWTC, VRGY and EAT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Bear Stearns upgraded the Restaurant Sector to Market Weight from Underweight citing better investor sentiment following Fed rate cuts and the economic stimulus plan; upgraded shares include Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) and Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI).
  
• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Blockbuster (NYSE: BBI) to Overweight from Neutral ahead of the company's Q4 results on March 6, as they believe the quarter will be at least in-line and 2008 guidance will be above Street expectations.
  
• Plexus (NASDAQ: PLXS) was raised to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse as they believe current quarter sales and bookings are tracking ahead.

• Maxwell Technologies (NASDAQ: MXWL) was upgraded to Market Perform from Market Underperform at JMP Securities.
  
• The firm also raised Sotheby's (NYSE: BID) to Market Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• Goldman Sachs added Allianz AG (NYSE: AZ) to its Conviction Buy List.

Analyst upgrades: Restaurant sector, BBI and PLXS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Jefferies upgraded shares of Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) to Buy from Hold as they expect the company is benefiting from above 20% revenue growth next year and SG&A leverage opportunity over the next 12-18 months.
  
• Bear Stearns upgraded shares of Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) to Outperform from Peer Perform as they believe Brinker's turnaround efforts can enhance shareholder value.
  
• Friedman Billings raised shares of Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) to Outperform from Market Perform based on the favorable outlook for cable and satellite spending on HD video and other projects.
  
• The firm also upgraded Idex Corporation (NYSE: IEX) to Outperform from Market Perform, citing the company's positive 2008 outlook and solid end markets.
  
• Goldman upgraded Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) to Neutral from Sell on valuation.

• CIBC upgraded J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) to Sector Outperformer from Sector Performer and Parker Hannifin (NYSE: PH) to Sector Performer from Sector Underperformer.
  
• Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S) was upgraded to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse.
  
• RBC Capital Markets upgraded LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) to Top Pick from Outperform.

Analyst upgrades: CNC, EAT, HLIT, IEX and RDS.A originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Banc of America downgraded Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) to Sell from Neutral, and lowered their target to $23 from $27, as they see downside risk to estimates due to slower growth. The firm is concerned that expectations for a near-term recovery are too high.
  
• Goldman downgraded Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) to Sell from Neutral citing macro economic pressure on sales.
  
• Credit Suisse downgraded Healthways Inc (NASDAQ: HWAY) to Neutral from Outperform on valuation.
  
• Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Morgan Joseph on valuation.

• Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at WestLB.
  
• Goldman downgraded Cnooc Ltd (NYSE: CEO) to Neutral from Buy.
  
• Credit Suisse downgraded Statoil (NYSE: STO) to Neutral from Outperform.
  
• GameStop Corp (NYSE: GME) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS.

Analyst downgrades: SBUX, EAT, HWAY and FLR originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Although they spent most of the day in the green the indexes gave up ground through most of the session to close just in the red.

The NYSE had volume of 3.6 billion shares with 1,612 shares advancing while 1,706 declined for a loss of 6.18 points to close at 9,428.86. On the NASDAQ, 2.2 billion shares traded, 1,426 advanced and 1,685 declined for a loss of -2.65 to 2,542.24.

EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC) rose $1.33 (8%) to $19.05; ahead of it's subsidiary VMware making its debut on the NYSE tomorrow in an IPO that analysts are predicting will be big. EMC will retain 90% of the shares. This is likely the reason for the active calls as EMC Corp. (NYSE: EMC) saw heavy volume on the August 19 calls (EMCHT) with over 56,000 options trading.

Centex Corporation (NYSE: CTX) fell $2.78 (-7%) to $35.63. Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) fell $2.53 (-7%) to $32.92. Brinker International (NYSE: EAT) rose $1.82 (7%) to $28.98. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT) rose $1.70 (6%) to $28.95.

In options there were 5.4 million puts and 5.8 million calls traded for a put/call open interest ratio of 0.92. The CBOE Volatility Index has been high closing today at 26.57. This is the fear indicator of the market. Not only is the index up, but options on the index are high with the CBOE S&P 500 Volatility Index (NASDAQ: $VIX) moving volume on the August 25 calls (VIXHE) with over 35,000 contracts.

Other stocks with active options include State Street Boston (NYSE: STT) saw heavy volume on the November 75 calls (STTKO) with over 60,000 options trading. Most of the active puts were on the indexes and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM) had volume on the August 78 puts (IOWTZ) with over 86,000 options trading.

Kevin Kersten is an Options Analyst with InvestorsObserver.com. Disclosure note: Mr. Kersten owns and or controls a diversified portfolio of long and short positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about.

Monday Market Rap: EMC, LEN, GT, EAT, & CTX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Baird upgraded Red Lion Hotels (NYSE: RLH) to Outperform from Neutral based on valuation, brand expansion progress and takeover potential.

• Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEP) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup based on higher cash flow expectations and valuation.

• JP Morgan upgraded Brinker (NYSE: EAT) to Overweight from Neutral, and sees potential upside from slower unit development and a possible Mac Grill sale.

• BMO Capital upgraded Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) to Outperform from Market Perform following a strong second quarter.

• Stanford upgraded InfoSpace (NASDAQ: INSP) to Hold from Sell on valuation; They consider the core online segments looks to be priced into the stock and downside support is given with tax credits and the cash balance...

• Citigroup raised Cox Radio (NYSE: CXR) to Hold from Sell.

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of PepsiAmericas (NYSE: PAS) to Neutral from Underweight.

• Friedman Billings upgraded shares of Emulex (NYSE: ELX) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• DirecTV (NYSE: DTV) was raised to Buy from Hold at Gabelli.

• Seagate (NYSE: STX) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.

Analysts upgrades: DTV, EAT, NVDA and STX originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Merriman upgraded shares of Buffalo Wild Wings (NASDAQ: BWLD) to Buy from Neutral on valuation as they believe the 25% sell-off post in-line earnings is overdone.

• Banc of America upgraded shares of Pepsi Bottling (NYSE: PBG) to Buy from Neutral to reflect the company's earnings power in 2008, ongoing cost controls and more robust product pipeline.

• SMH Capital upgraded shares of Brinker Int'l (NYSE: EAT) as they believe expectations are too low for Q4 and FY08.

• Northwest Airlines (NYSE: NWA) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley on valuation.

• Spectrum Brands (NYSE: SPC) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at Buckingham on valuation...

• Gap (NYSE: GPS) was upgraded to Neutral from Underperform at CL King & Associates.

• Raymond James upgraded Ruby Tuesday (NYSE: RT) to Market Perform from Underperform.

• Burger King (NYSE: BKC) was raised to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.

• MetLife (NYSE: MET) was added to Goldman Sachs' Conviction Buy List.

• Bear Stearns upgraded Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (NYSE: MSO) to Outperform from Peer Perform.

Analyst upgrades 8-07-07: BKC, EAT, GPS and NWA originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.